Iceland has wanted to exploit its significant geothermal electricity resources to produce clean electricity to power a clean electric vehicle fleet. ABB and Iceland have teamed up to expand Iceland's fast charging infrastructure to better serve the growing electric vehicle fleet on the island.

Countries like Iceland have a big incentive to switch to renewable energy due to the high cost of importing fossil fuels from elsewhere. Electricity generated from Iceland's abundant geothermal resource is a fraction the cost of imported oil or coal. Twenty years ago Iceland's goal was to be the first full-fledged Hydrogen Economy, but the underlying fuel cell technology is completely impractical for vehicles and is still 5-20 years away. Obviously Iceland has decided to go with electric vehicles to solve their fuel price problem, instead of Hydrogen Fuel Cells.

The plan is to install fifteen Terra 53 dual-protocol DC Fast Charging stations along Iceland's main highway. This highway rings the island and clearly will allow drivers the freedom to drive on electricity pretty much anywhere in Iceland. A trip from Reykjavik to Vallanes, at the other end of Iceland, is about 650 kilometers, and therefore the trip would require several charging stops.

ABB has won a public sector tender from Reykjavik Energy for the delivery of 15 fast chargers. The fast chargers will boost the country’s charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and will all be commissioned by the end of 2017

ON Power, a part of Reykjavik Energy, has signed a contract with ABB for the delivery and installation of 15 Terra multi-standard DC chargers type 53 CJG at various points along Iceland’s main highway. The order has come into place through ABB’s channel partner, Johan Rönning.

Today there are over 1,400 electric vehicles on the road in Iceland. This is partly due to a state-financed incentive program, which supports the purchase of electric vehicles. The tender for fast chargers is part of the country’s campaign to promote and expand Iceland’s e-mobility strategy by increasing the availability of flexible and robust charging stations along central locations of the national highway across the entire country. The specified fast charger can charge an electric vehicle in just 15-30 minutes, featuring easy to read touch screen displays and graphic visualization together with low operational noise. All chargers can be combined with comprehensive solutions for user authorization, payment and network connectivity.

“Iceland is a progressive country, which introduces new energy standards and makes use of the country’s sustainable energy resources to support its infrastructure,” says Frank Muehlon, Head of ABB’s Global Business for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure. “The advantages with this type of fast charger can be found in the multi-protocol design, which supports cloud-based technology. This gives ON Power access to real time data for the remote control and proactive control of the operation and technical status of the charging stations. This gives a fully flexible overview of the entire charging network,” he says, adding that the system is fully functional right down to temperatures of minus 35 degrees.

Johan Rönning’s Sales Director, Óskar Gústavsson, said: “We have had an excellent collaboration with ABB for many years, which has led to us winning this project. We are happy to assist in transforming Iceland’s transport sector into a more sustainable system.”

ON Power’s business development manager, Jón Sigurðsson added: “We have chosen to invest in fast charger technology as part of our role in the green transformation of Iceland. Iceland’s electricity production is primarily based on sustainable energy. This is why it makes perfect sense for the transport sector to be a part of the electrification process.

“ON Power is a leading electricity company, and it was important for us to find a supplier that would enable us to future-proof the charging network. The range of the Terra53 CJG enables this, and via its open industry standards, also gives full flexibility with online remote access.”

ABB has delivered fast charger solutions as part of its contribution to promoting sustainable mobility since 2010 and has sold more than 5,000 e-vehicle fast chargers globally.

About Reykjavik Energy

Reykjavik Energy is a public utility company providing electricity, geothermal water for heating, and cold water for consumption and firefighting. The service area extends to 20 municipalities, covering 67% of the Icelandic population. Reykjavík Energy‘s principal owner is the City of Reykjavík, and it provides its services through three subsidiaries; Veitur Utilities, ON Power and Reykjavík Fibre Network. The group harnesses hot water from geothermal fields in Reykjavík and operates geothermal plants at Hellisheiði and Nesjavellir where electricity and hot water is generated. Potable water is distributed from groundwater reservoirs and the group‘s waste-water services meet wide environmental requirements.

About Johan Rönning

Johan Rönning is the leading supplier on electrical products for the professional market on Iceland. The company provide its wide range of products strategically around Iceland through over 40 educated, skilled and experienced sales representatives. Johan Rönning also operates extensive service department responsible for two warehouses, logistic, customer assistance etc. Among key customers are electrical companies, utilities, aluminum plants, fishing industry and construction companies. Johan Rönning operates 7 sales- & service centers on Iceland. The headquarters is located in Reykjavík, where there are also two warehouses in operation.

Our mission statement is to "Continue to be the prime driver on the professional electrical market and be recognized as a value added company that provides a broad range of high quality products and service to the electrical market.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing more than a 125-year history of innovation, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization and driving the Energy and Fourth Industrial Revolutions. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 136,000 employees.
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